Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I thank all who contributed to the debate, including the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for his lengthy contribution and the many and considered contributions of the Opposition Members, including Senators Cummins, Coffey, Burke, Bradford, Norris and O'Toole. Senator O'Toole is especially keen that I acknowledge as much. I also acknowledge the contribution of my colleagues Senators de Búrca, Carty and O'Malley. I am grateful for the conduct of the debate, which recognised the intent of the motion. The motion recognises the potential that exists and how we can collectively build on it and many contributions reflected this recognition very well.

Senator Norris made the point that we have come some distance from the time when a political debate of this nature would have been derided and largely ignored. That there is such a degree of consensus on the motion gives heart and indicates we are moving in the right direction. Whether we are moving fast enough and devoting sufficient resources is a matter for further legitimate political debates and I believe there will be many such debates in the House.

Senator O'Toole mentioned several possible options. He spoke of nuclear fusion, which he has mentioned previously. I am nowhere near to being a nuclear physicist and I cannot say whether nuclear fusion is likely or possible in the near future. However, current nuclear technology carries a sizable risk of potential disasters and a significant problem in dealing with nuclear waste. Senator O'Toole also asked about the potential of waste-to-energy technology. There is undoubted potential in this area. He concentrated on open funnel incineration. Open stack incineration is the most wasteful technology that exists. Far from representing an alternative to landfill, it merely delays what eventually ends up in it. There are incinerator based technologies such as closed-loop systems and co-firing which offer potential. I am open, and I believe the House would be open, to such debates in the future. Ultimately, the debate is a useful start to what will follow, namely, the promise of the establishment of an action group, to report within four months, dealing with the potential that exists here and now. The impending announcement is especially welcome because it serves as a recognition of what has been lacking in the past, namely, the clichéd notion of joined-up Government. If there is to be progress in this area it must be on the basis of recognising that it is not the special responsibility of any one Department, but of all Departments working collectively to bring about a desired end.

I thank all Senators for their contributions this evening and I look forward to debates of this type in future where we can assess some of the commitments entered in the record of the House tonight and how the country is progressing in meeting the undoubted potential which exists.